Electro-acupuncture method using an electrical stimulator

ABSTRACT

A method of reducing nausea, dizziness, stomach pain and other symptoms in a patient utilizing a non-invasive nerve stimulation device applied over acupuncture points and nerves in the ankle or calf of the patient.

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS

This invention relates to moderation of nausea and electro-acupuncture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

Bertolucci, Nausea Control Device, U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,146, Jan. 1,1991, describes a nausea control device in the form of a watch-likehousing attachable to the human wrist by an adjustable attachment band.The device uses non-invasive nerve stimulation whereby electricity ispassed through two electrodes to stimulate nerves located on the insideof the wrist. The treatment provided by the device is sometimes referredto as electro-acupuncture, which is a form of acupuncture, and theventral site of application is referred to in the acupuncture art as theP6 point, pericardium 6 point, or master point of the pericardiummeridian (sometimes referred to as the vascular meridian). A primaryobject of the invention is to provide a non-chemical, non-invasive,painless and inexpensive method of alleviating nausea. It is alsoportable, self-contained and convenient to the patient. Electrical pulserepetition rate of approximately 70 pulses per second and a pulse widthof 80 microseconds has been found to provide effective relief of nauseain a patient. Our currently preferred electrical pulse pattern comprisesabout 350 microsecond pulse width at about 31 pulses per second at powerlevels of about 10-35 milli-amps peak pulse height. Thus a wide range ofpulse patterns may be used in non-invasive nerve stimulation devices.

SUMMARY

The methods and devices described below use electro-acupuncture appliedto acupuncture points on the calf and around the ankle to controlnausea, stomach upset and similar conditions. A patient desiring tomoderate his or her nausea places a pair of electrodes on the ankle,lower calf or upper calf, and applies electrical stimulation to theankle through these electrodes. This has the effect of reducing nauseaand stomach upset. The electrodes, pulse generating circuitry, and powersupply are most conveniently packaged in a housing which is held to theankle, lower calf or upper calf with a band. The device is placed sothat the electrodes overlie an acupuncture point known to affect adesired therapy. Alternatively, the device is placed so that theelectrodes overlie a nerve that runs under the acupuncture point, inwhich case the device may be placed on the leg some distance from theassociated acupuncture point to provide a comfortable placement for thedevice. The technique accomplished by the device is referred to aselectro-acupuncture or non-invasive nerve stimulation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the non-invasive nerve stimulation suitable for useon the ankle and lower leg.

FIG. 2 shows the acupuncture points of the leg, in an anterior view.

FIG. 3 shows the acupuncture points of the leg, in a posterior view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS

FIG. 1 illustrates the non-invasive nerve stimulation suitable for useon the ankle and lower leg. The ReliefBand® NST™ non-invasive nervestimulation device 1 was secured with strap 2 which is sized forapplying the device to the calf 3 or ankle of a patient. The pair ofelectrodes 4 are disposed on the underside of the housing 5 so that theylie over the nerve 6 which is to be stimulated by the device (indicatedby the phantom line). The electrodes are thus located in spacedside-by-side relation along the line of the nerve or over theacupuncture point targeted for stimulation. Control buttons 7 aremounted on the outer surface of the device, and permit the user toadjust the power of stimulation and the pulse pattern of stimulation.The strap is used to hold the electrodes in contact with the skin in thevicinity of the target nerve or acupuncture point. The required batteryand control electronics are housed within the housing, and inputmechanisms are located on the outer face of the housing.

The target nerve or target acupuncture point is found on the ankle orleg of the patient. The anterior view of the leg 8 is shown in FIG. 2,which also shows several useful acupuncture points for application ofelectro-stimulation. The S-36 point (or zu san li) (also referred to asST-36) is located just below the knee cap, slightly lateral to theanterior crest of the tibia. The S-37 (shang ju xu)(also referred to asST-37) point is located several inches below the knee cap, slightlylateral to the anterior crest of the tibia. These points can bestimulated to relieve nausea and vomiting. The GB-39 (xuan zhong) pointis located about 3 inches above the external malleolus, on the lateralside of the calf. Acupuncture points GB-38, GB-37 and GB 36 are alsolocates along a line extending up along the lateral side of the calf,above GB-39. The K-7 (fu liu) point is located on the medial side of thecalf, posterior to the medial malleolus, toward the achilles tendon. TheGB-39 GB-38, GB-37 and GB 36 and KI-7 points may be stimulated torelieve diarrhea and intestinal problems.

The posterior view of the leg 8 is shown in FIG. 3, which also showsseveral useful acupuncture points for application ofelectro-stimulation. The BL-60 point (or kun lun) is located justlateral to the achilles tendon, between the posterior border of theexternal malleolus and the medial aspect of the tendo calcaneous. TheBL-59 point (or fu yang) is located just posterior to the externalmalleolus. These points may be stimulated to reduce symptoms such asnausea, dizziness and motion sickness.

Thus, all of these acupuncture points may be stimulated by theapplication of non-invasive electrical stimulation to achieve thedesired therapy of relief from stomach pain and vomiting, dizziness,motion sickness, abdominal pain, diarrhea and pre-menstrual cramps.

Referring to the local anatomy of the ankle, several nerves areassociated with channels of acupuncture points (the “channel” includingall the acupuncture points having the same two letter designation orother traditional groupings), and can be stimulated to providetherapeutic relief. Along the back of the calf and ankle, the tibialnerve 10 and its branches (e.g., the medial plantar nerve 11 and lateralplantar nerves 12 under the foot, generally traveling inside the ankle)and elements of the musculo-cutaneous nerve and its branches (generallytraveling outside the ankle) can be stimulated to cause the same affectas stimulation of the traditional SP and BL acupuncture points. Thetibial nerve and its branches run along the path established by the BLand SP acupuncture points. This indicates that, for the SP-2, SP-3 andSP-4 (Spleen Channel) acupuncture points, and the BL-55, BL-59, andBL-60 acupuncture points, their associated nerve structures can bestimulated by electrodes at the back of the ankle, since this is aconvenient location for placement of a bracelet or wristwatch-like,wearable battery powered device. The nerve stimulation device can alsobe placed strapped onto the calf just below the knee, with theelectrodes on the back of the need, in contact with the crease of thejoint, to contact the BL points and the tibial nerve in its superficialapproach to the skin in this area. These SP and BL points are allassociated with relieving stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness,motion sickness, abdominal pain, diarrhea and pre-menstrual cramps.Other possible sites around the foot are generally implicated inrelieving menstrual and pre-menstrual symptoms in women. Thus, stomachpain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, motion sickness, abdominal pain,diarrhea and pre-menstrual cramps may be alleviated by application ofelectrical stimulation to the tibial nerve and its branches wherever itcan be accessed.

Referring to the anterior view of FIG. 2, the superficial peroneal nerve13 runs along the outside of the calf, along the line established by theGB points. Thus, the superficial peroneal nerve may be stimulated withthe device to cause the affects associated with the GB channel ofacupuncture points. These points are associated with relieving stomachpain and vomiting, dizziness, motion sickness, abdominal pain, diarrheaand pre-menstrual cramps. The saphenous nerve 14 lies along the Kchannel which included point K7, and may be stimulated with the nervestimulation device at superficial points along its path, for examplenear the inside of the upper calf, just below the knee, or at the bottomof the calf, but well above the ankle bone. The deep peroneal nerve 15runs down the front of the calve, along the line defined by the S-36 andS-37 points, and may be stimulated with the nerve stimulation device atsuperficial points along its path.

Generally, the points near the ankle represent points accessible toacupuncture needles where certain nerves run superficially (close to theskin). Because the electro-acupuncture device does not requirepenetration, but is capable of deeper stimulating penetration thanneedles due to its application of non-invasive electrical stimulation,the sites of stimulation may be altered from the traditional acupuncturepoints. Thus, rather than placing the device immediately above theacupuncture points on the bony part of the ankle (or points requiringthat the band be strapped over the ankle bone), the stimulation may beapplied at alternate sites well above the ankle, so long as thestimulation is applied to the nerve associated with the acupuncturechannel associated with the acupuncture point which is traditionallytargeted for the desired therapy.

Thus, while the preferred embodiments of the devices and methods havebeen described in reference to the environment in which they weredeveloped, they are merely illustrative of the principles of theinventions. Other embodiments and configurations may be devised withoutdeparting from the spirit of the inventions and the scope of theappended claims.

We claim:
 1. A method of controlling nausea in a patient comprising thesteps of: mounting a pair of electrodes onto the calf of the patient ata position generally closely overlying the GB-39 acupuncture point,wherein said electrodes are carried in a housing with a band adapted tobe fastened about the calf, with the housing having a pulsed stimulationsignal generating circuit and a portable power supply encased therein;generating a pulsed stimulation signal of selected amplitude, pulsewidth and cycle rate; and delivering the stimulation signal to theelectrodes to stimulate the ankle generally at the GB-39 acupuncturepoint to suppress nausea.
 2. The method of claim 1 further including thestep of adjustably varying the amplitude of the stimulation signal.
 3. Amethod of controlling nausea in a patient comprising the steps of:mounting a pair of electrodes onto the calf of the patient at a positiongenerally closely overlying the S-37 acupuncture point, wherein theelectrodes are carried in a housing with a band adapted to be fastenedabout the calf just below the knee, with the housing having a pulsedstimulation signal generating circuit and a portable power supplyencased therein; generating a pulsed stimulation signal of selectedamplitude, pulse width and cycle rate; and delivering the stimulationsignal to the electrodes to stimulate the calf generally at the S-36acupuncture point to suppress nausea.
 4. The method of claim 3 furtherincluding the step of adjustably varying the amplitude of thestimulation signal.